Ash Gardner will hit Australia's Twenty20 World Cup warm-up matches full of confidence after a half-century in the last of three informal hit-outs against South Africa.
Gardner's 66 runs from 38 balls at Arundel Castle helped Australia to an 85-run win over the Proteas, who eliminated them from the last edition of the tournament in a semi-final boilover.
Australia, the world's top-ranked side, enter this month's World Cup with great expectations on their shoulders, having also failed to defend their 50-over title in 2025.
Gardner's fellow allrounder Georgia Wareham (52 runs off 29 balls) chipped in with a half-century of her own to help Australia to 6-212 on Thursday (Friday AEST), when South Africa finished at 6-127 in reply.
South Africa opener Laura Wolvaardt (47) retired just shy of her half-century, with Ellyse Perry (1-8), Annabel Sutherland (1-12) and new captain Sophie Molineux (1-16) helping rattle through her teammates.
